Beverage case



NOV. 25, 1952 SCHMIDT 2,619,251

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T. SCHMIDT BEVERAGE CASE Nov. 25, 1952 Filed Jan. 51, 1947 3 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR. 7/ 220 Sc/zzzk-Zi;

1952 T. SCHMIDT 2,619,251

BEVERAGE cAsE Filed Jan. 51. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 N INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEVERAGE CASE Thur Schmidt, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 31, 1947, Serial No. 725,611

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to beverage cases and is specifically directed to the provision of a novel and improved case adapted to carry bottled beverages in transport. The principles of this invention are applicable to cases designed for any type of bottles and may enclose the entire bottle if desired, but the specific form of the invention here illustrated and described is of the type usually preferred for soft drink bottles, wherein the case extends only to the shoulder of the bottle, so that the bottle necks project from the case.

It is the general aim of this invention to provide an improved beverage case having novel features of construction adapted to enhance the appearance of the product and aid in maintaining cleanliness. More specifically, it provides a case of attractive appearance with unusual qualities of durability and yet adapted to economical manufacture, so that it is more acceptable to the trade and more pleasing to purchasers than the types heretofore known.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide an improved beverage case wherein the parts are so designed and constructed that the cases may be cleaned easily, thoroughly and without adversely affecting their length of life, so that the cases as well as the bottles in which a beverage is delivered are entirely sanitary and of pleasing appearance. In this connection it may be noted that conventional wooden cases tend to accumulate a great amount of dirt and filth, not only in transit but particularly in storage pending return from the consumers premises, yet the inherent nature of conventional cases is such that no practicable method of properly cleaning and sterilizing the cases exists. The result is that although commercial bottlers spend tremendous sums of money in maintaining spotless bottling plants and are extremely zealous in safeguarding the purity and cleanliness of their product, the appearance of scrupulous cleanliness is largely lost before the product reaches the consumer. This is unavoidable if the individual bottles, after sterile filling and capping, are placed in cases that are obviously dirty and unsanitary, and are delivered to the consumer in this condition.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved beverage case so designed and constructed as to be vermin-proof and of comparatively light weight, yet of strong and rigid construction, well adapted to withstand long continued use without deterioration or damage and not subject to rot, rust, warping or excessive corrosion. The presence of vermin near any food product oifered for sale is nauseating, but the fact that beverages are often spilled on the case as used bottles are placed in the cases for return tends to make them attractive to insects and requires that particular attention be given to means of avoiding contamination.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of a beverage case having its parts constructed and arranged to present a smooth, regular exterior surface of neat and pleasing appearance.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a beverage case of the general type indicated wherein the exposed surfaces of the case are smoothly rounded and sharp corners are eliminated, so that the appearance of the case is pleasing to the eye and so that the risk of breakage of the bottles by striking sharp corners on the cases is reduced.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a beverage case of the type indicated wherein the bottles may be held more securely than in previously known types, so that the degree of possible movement of bottles within the receptacles of the case may be so small that a, large number of filled cases may be stacked upon each other without undue tipping or swaying of the stack.

The foregoing objects are accomplished in the present invention by the provision of a beverage case consisting of a sheet metal bottom member and a sheet metal top member forming a frame, with a multiplicity of bottle receptacles adapted to receive the bottles and to support the individual bottles at their bases and at their shoulders. In the form of the invention chosen as typical of the embodiments now contemplated, and illustrated in the drawings of this disclosure, the bottom and top members are each formed of a single sheet metal stamp-ing. The top element is provided with a deep downwardly extending flange around its marginal edge, which is joined with a shorter marginal flange extending downwardly from the bottom member to form a lock seam. Bottle receptacles between the top and bottom members are formed to receive the individual bottles.

The preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings attached to and formin a part of this specification. In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a beverage case constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmental plan view of a slightly modified form of the invention, with parts broken away to illustrate the interior construction.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 33 of Figure 2.

The case comprises a metal frame having a bottom and top member formed to provide a plurality of bottle receptacles to receive the individual bottles. The bottom member I consists of a single piece of relatively thinsheet material, preferably aluminum, having a multiplicity of bottle sockets I formed therein so that the metal between the individual sockets defines a generally flat upper web |2 extending between the individual bottle sockets. Each of the bottle sockets includes a generally circular vertical sidewall |3 extending from the web [2 downwardly to a bottle seat I4 adapted to receive and support the bottom of a bottle. The supporting surface of the bottle seat It extends around the entire socket, but the central area of .the'socket may include a circular raised portion |5 to providecap seating surfaces It on the bottomof the sockets, so that when filled cases are stacked one upon the other, the caps of the beverage bottles in the lower cases will bear against the surfaces IG and the bottles in one case will support the case above it. It is also considered preferable toprovide central openings IT in the bottom of each of the bottle sockets to facilitate proper flow of the metal of the sheet during the forming operation and to aid in cleaning. The bottom member ID has a marginal flange |8 extending downwardlyfrom the edges, of the web |2 to a point somewhat below the lower extremities of the bottle sockets. This marginal flange of the bottom member is joined to the side flanges and end flanges 2| of a top member 22 by a lock seam 23 extending entirely around the case. The top member 22 of the case includes a multiplicity of bottle openings 24 above and. in alignment with the bottle sockets H in the lower member. Each of the bottle openings .24 is formed to include a short circular flange 25 extending downwardly from the web .26 which defines the. upper plane surface of the case. The. flanges 25 are preferably joined to the web 26 by curved portions 21 of the sheet so that sharp corners are avoided and so that the flange 25 will act as a bottle supporting rim to engage the shoulder of the bottle. Similarly, the corners 28 and 29 between the flat web 26 of the top member and the side flanges 20 and end flanges 2| are rounded to 'so avoid sharp exterior corners, and so that'the corners T28 and 29 .will nest securely inside of the'lock seam 23 when empty cases are stacked'oneabo've the other.

It is desirable to provide hand grips for the cases, and while these may be of handles conventional form, it is advantageous tomake them by pressing the metal of the end flanges 2| .of the top member inwardly to form a finger grip 3 I. ,It ,is also contemplated that the side end flanges '20 and flanges 2| may be embossed or stamped with the name of the beverage or identification of its manufacturer. i V 1 Bottle guides extending between] the bottle sockets in the base member and thefb ottle openings in the top member may be provided so that the movement of the base of the bottle will be limited to the diameter of the bottle socket, even though the bottles may be partially lifted from the case so that they are not actually seated in the bottle sockets. lhese bottle guides are. preferably in the form of cylindrical sleeves 32, seated .tle openings are identified as A, B, C and D in the drawings. It may be explained that the bottle guides are most needed in these locations immediately adjacent the hand grips, since it is customary fordeliverymen and others to handle cases by grasping a bottle in one of these openings in his fingers and placing his thumb in the finger grip 3|, so that hecarries the case hanging downwardly in an inclined position, yet may carry a case in each hand. The sleeves 32 prevent the possibility of a bottle shifting angularly or being displaced from the bottle opening, even though it might be lifted'above the plane of the web l2 and out of the socket From the foregoing it will'be apparent that the teachings of this invention make feasible the provision of an improved beverage case having novel features of construction giving rise to well defined points of superiority over structures previously known in the art, yet adapted to economical manufacture and therefore commercially acceptable in a highly competitive field.

Beverage cases constructed according to these teachings have greater strength and rigiditythan wooden cases, and are therefore able towithstand more abuse and to last longer than'c onventional types. Moreover, the cases are not subject to rot, nor to swelling or warping. This means that the bottle sockets may be fitted with less clearance between the bottles and the case, so that the degree of tilting movement of the bottles in the case is reduced, It follows; that a larger number of cases may be stacked one 'upon another, without undue tendency of the stack to sway or tip. The cases are also lighter in weight thanthose heretofore used, makingit possible to transport a greater number of bottles in'a" delivery truck without overloading; so'that' distribution may be speeded and costs reduced.

The smooth and regular exterior of the cases gives them a pleasing appearance and the gently rounded corners reduce therisk of breakage of the bottles.

I t is contemplated that the cases 'may' be formed of various metals and may be given a coat of enamel or other surface finish if desired, but the use of sheet aluminum withoutsurface finish gives riseto certain advantages in cleanliness and injappearance, since the bare aluminum sheet is ideally suited to commercial meth- "ods of cleaning.

The problem of' maintaining cleanliness in bottle' ca'ses" thatare used over and over again is an extremely serious one, since it is the custom in the trade to return empty bottles to the bottling plant in the same cases used for supplying filled bottles. Naturally, any beverage spilled from the' bottles includes food products or syrups that are attractive to flies, ants, roaches and other insects. It follows that the cases must be cleaned with unusual thoroughas is known, there is no practical way of cleaning conventional wooden cases with the degree of thoroughness required. It is contemplated that the cases disclosed here may be cleaned by immersing the entire case in a boiling caustic solution followed by a boiling rinse, so that the surfaces will be thoroughly cleansed and brightened, and will present a brilliant, sparkling finish that will add to the attractiveness of the product and further the impression of scrupulous cleanliness.

The present invention thus possesses marked advantages over presently used types of beverage cases, since cases made according to these teachings not only keep the product from contamination, but also give the consumer a visual impression of perfect cleanliness that adds to the saleability of the product. The construction shown also avoids difliculties of maintenance now encountered with wooden cases in which the sides, ends, bottoms or spacers frequently loosen or become detached, since a case made according to these teachings becomes a completely unitary structure in which the separate individual parts can never be separated by anything short of complete destruction of the case.

The forms of the invention illustrated in the drawings represent the present preferred commercial construction of cases for soft drinks, but it is recognized that the teachings of this disclosure are subject to numerous other modifications and variations Without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is accordingly pointed out that the scope of the inventive thought is not limited to the precise forms shown, but extends to any variations or modifications coming within the terms of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a beverage case, in combination, a bottom member comprising a single integral piece of relatively thin sheet material of generally flat form, including a horizontally disposed web with a plurality of bottle sockets formed therein, each socket including side walls extending downwardly from the web and terminating in a bottle seat having a surface adapted to support a bottle in the socket; a top member also comprising a single integral piece of relatively thin sheet material above and spaced from the bottom member, and having a horizontally disposed web defining a generally flat upper surface with a plurality of bottle openings therein; each of said bottle openings being positioned above and in registry with one of the bottle sockets of the bottom member, and each bottle opening including a rim consisting of a short circular flange extending downwardly from the web: at least one bottle guide extending between a bottle opening in the top member and a bottle socket in the bottom member and consisting of a cylindrical sleeve of thin sheet material seated within the bottle socket and having its outer surfaces engaging the vertical side walls of the socket, with its upper end surrounding the outer surface of the downwardly extending circular flange of the bottle opening in the top member; together with marginal means for spacing the top and bottom members from each other including a generally .vertical side wall comprising a continuous flange formed integrally with the top member and extending downwardly on all sides therefrom to a point below the bottle 6 sockets of the bottom member; a continuous marginal flange extending downwardly from the web of the bottom member, and a lock seam uniting the flanges of the top and bottom members.

2. In a beverage case, in combination, a bottom member comprising a single integral piece of relatively thin sheet material of generally flat form, including a horizontally disposed web with a plurality of bottle sockets formed therein, each socket including generally vertical side walls and a bottle seat having a surface adapted to support a bottle in the socket; a top member also comprising a single integral piece of relatively thin sheet material above and spaced from the bottom member, and having a horizontally disposed Web defining a generally flat upper surface With a plurality of bottle openings therein; each of said bottle openings being positioned above and in registry with one of the bottle sockets of the bottom member, and each bottle opening including a rim consisting of a circular flange extending downwardly from the web: at least one bottle guide extending between a bottle opening in the top member and a bottle socket in the bottom member and consisting of a cylindrical sleeve of thin sheet material seated within the bottle socket and having its outer surfaces engaging the vertical side walls of the socket, with its upper end surrounding the outer surface of the downwardly extending circular flange of the bottle opening in the top member; together with a continuous marginal wall extending between the top and bottom members on all side thereof for spacing the top and bottom members from each other.

3. In a beverage case having top and bottom members of relatively thin sheet material of generally flat form, with apertures in the top member and bottle holding devices between the said members, the combination of downwardly curved marginal edges extending entirely around the top member, said edges terminating in integral and continuous substantially vertical sides each extending below the plane of the bottom member, with a lock seam between the lower edges of the sides and the marginal edges of the bottom member; said lock seam being below the plane of the bottom member and extending outwardly of the vertical sides and the flat portion of the top member to engage the downwardly curved edges of the top member and prevent relative lateral displacement of the cases when stacked upon each other.

THUR SCHMIDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 966,259 Sochurek Aug. 2, 1910 1,220,301 Waldman Mar. 27, 1917 2,247,620 Robinson July 1, 1941 2,322,797 Fishel June 29, 1943 2,411,193 Cummins Nov. 19, 1946 2,416,242 Taurman Feb. 18, 1947 2,459,921 Comer Jan. 25, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 45,867 France Oct. 7, 1935 

